Milliner&#39;s hat-stand.



No. 764,495. T PATENTEDJULY 5 1904. H. L. OLIPHINT.

MILLINERS HAT STAND.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.3, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Inventor 77 62123 Z. O/9bianf bf, I

Attomzy UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904-.

PATENT OEEicE.

MILLINERS HAT-STAN D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,495, dated July 5, 1904. Application filed December 3, 1903- Serial No. 183,589. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. OLIPI-IINT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pauls Valley, in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milliners Hat-Stands; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved milliners stand for holding a hat, bonnet, or the like for display and for securely retaining the same thereon, so that the hat or bonnet is not liable to fall or slip from the stand; and my invention consists in the construction and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a hatstand embodying my improvements, showing the spreader-wires extended in full lines to engage the crown of a hat and showing them retracted in dotted lines to release the hat. Fig. 2 is partly a top plan View and partly a horizontal section of the same, taken on the plane indicated by the line a a of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of my invention here shown I provide a base 1, from which rises a standard-rod 2, at the upper end of which there is a circular cap 3. This cap serves to connect the upper ends of a series of spreader spring-wires 4 to the upper end of the stand ard. Each of the said spreader spring-wires has its upper end bent outwardly, as at 5, and disposed radially, or substantially so, with reference to the standard and is then curved downwardly and outwardly, as at 6, to form a spreader portion adapted to fit in the crown of a hat, the lower ends of the spreader-wires being attached to an adjusting-sleeve 7, which slides vertically on the standard 2. The

spreader-wires are also connected together at a suitable distance from their lower ends by a ring 8, through which the standard extends, the diameter of the ring being considerably in excess of that of the standard.

The standard is provided with stops 9 10, which coact with the opposite ends of the adjusting-sleeve 7 to limit the vertical movement thereof upon the standard. The sleeve is provided in one side with a slot-11, and the standard has a spring-pressed pivotallymounted detent 12 to engage the said slot, and thereby lock the adjusting-sleeve in a position substantially midway between the two stops 9 10. The said detent also coacts with the ends of the said sleeve to lock it against either of the stops 9 10, as will be understood.

The lower portions of the spring spreaderwires are bent spirally, as shown. The tension of the said spring-wires and their required shape may be maintained by partly turning the adjusting-sleeve to restore the spring spreader-wires to their required shape, as will be understood.

In the operation of my invention a hat or the like article is placed on the rack, and the adjusting-sleeve is then moved as may be required to extend the upper outwardlybowed portions of the spring spreader-wires to cause them to engage the crown of the hat, and thereby retain the hat firmly in place on the stand. To release the hat, the adjustingsleeve must be drawn downwardly to retract the outwardly-bowed upper portions of the spring-wires.

Where the hat is very flexible, it may he slipped from the stand without thus moving the adjusting-sleeve; but it will be understood that under all conditions the tension of the spring spreader-wires within the crown of the hat will be suflicient to prevent the latter from becoming casually displaced.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r g A stand of the class described, comprising IO bowed portions thereof, and a sleeve, adjustable on the standard and to which the lower ends of the spreader-wires are attached.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of the subscribing witnesses.

HENRY L. OLIPHINT. Witnesses:

J C. ELLIOTT, J. T. BLANTON, JAMES ELLIOTT. 

